Heel-plate.



E. FRANK;

4 HEEL PLATE.

IAPPLIOATION I'ILBD DEO.28,1908.

925,690. Patented June 22, 1909.

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BY 1 mm. Y. M

ATTORN BY THE NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, D- c.

EDWARD FRANK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HEEL-PLATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FRANK, a citizen of Austria-Hungary, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Heel-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in heel plates. These heel plates, as generally used, are made with three prongs formed integral with the plate which are driven into the leather heel of the shoe for the purpose of preventing wear upon the edges of the heel. But these heel plates are i seldom applied to the heels of shoes when the latter are new and unworn, but nearly always after the heel has been considerably worn, and, consequently, difiiculty is often experienced in securing the heel plate to the heel so that the inner or front edge of the heel plate fits snugly to the under sur face of the heel. WVhen the heel plate is thus secured without fitting snugly, the result is that the inner edge of the heel plate continually strikes against projections or rough places so that, by reason of such repeated impacts, there is great tendency for the heel plate to become loose. It has been attempted to overcome this objection by hammering the edge of the heel plate tightly and snugly against the heel, but this method does not remove the difliculty, because, the entire heel plate and the prongs being in one piece, the effect of this hammering upon an edge of the heel plate is to cause the prongs to move laterally in their holes in the heel and enlarge said holes, so that the prongs do not fit securely in the heel.

The object of the present invention is to provide a heel plate which will avoid the above objections.

In the accompany drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved heel plate; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a front edge view; Fig. 4: is a section on the line ll of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on the line of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates my improved heel plate, which, with slight dif ferences, is of the same general configuration as those generally in use. Formed integral with said plate are three prongs, a center prong 2, and outer prongs 3. In the old style of heel plate said outer prongs were located close to the extreme points or ends of the plate. In my present construction,

for a reason which will presently appear, said prongs are located not much more than half way from the center of the plate to the end or point thereof.

In the lower side of the plate and at a short distance from its ends or corners are formed two terminal grooves 4 which extend completely across from the inner to the outer edge of the plate, and from the inner ends of said grooves a groove 5 also extends at nearly a uniform distance from the outer edge of the plate. The inner edge of the plate, in front of said groove 5, is formed with two scallops 7, the inner ends of which terminate at the center of the groove 5. It is in order that the outer prongs 3 may eX tend entirely from the part of the heel plate between said grooves 4L, 5, and the outer edge that I now place said outer prongs much nearer the center than heretofore. It will be seen that by means of these grooves, the depth of which is about two-thirds of the thickness of material, I form the plate with weakened portions which are bent with comparative ease. The inner portion of the plate is thus formed with four parts, namely, the two terminal parts 6 and the scallops 7, which can readily be hammered or bent down to fit snugly against the heel. More over this can be effected without in the least shaking or moving the prongs in the holes into which they have been driven, so that the degree of security with which the heel plate is fastened to the heel is not in the least impaired by the hammering.

The above construction in no way adds to the expense of manufacture.

I claim 1. A heel plate formed in its outer or under surface with a groove extending in the general direction of its front edge, said front edge being formed with scallops, each having both ends terminatin in substantially the deepest portion 0 the groove, whereby said scalloped front edge can be readily bent out of the plane of themaln portion of the heel plate, substantially as described.

2. A heel plate formed in its outer or under surface with a groove extending in the general direction of its front edge, said front edge being formed with scallops, each having both ends terminating in substantially the deepest portion of the groove, whereby said scalloped front edge can be readily bent out of the plane of the main portion of the heel plate, said heel plate l prongs, all of which are between said grooves being also formed on its underside with and the outer edge of the heel plate subgrooves leading from the ends of the first stantially as described.

groove entirely across the plate to the rear "In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 edge thereof, substantially as described. my hand in the presence of two subscribing 15 3. A heel plate :having in its outer or witnesses. under surface a groove adjacent to the front EDWARD FRANK. or inner edge and grooves extending translVitnesses: versely across the ends or corners, said heel F. M. WRIGHT,

10 plate having formed integral therewith D. B. RICHARDS. 

